Oak Ridge Town Council meeting

OAK RIDGE town council WHAT they voted on, Nov. 4 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS and HOW they voted:

as reported by CHRIS BURRITT

Mayor Ann Schneider called the monthly meeting in Oak Ridge Town Hall to order, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman present.

Denise Sacks, missions and discipleship pastor at Shady Grove Wesleyan Church in Colfax, offered the invocation; it was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Scout project. Milana Nostrand, a founding member of Oak Ridge’s Scout Troop 219 G (girls), received a standing ovation in recognition of her Eagle Scout service project. For her project she photographed the gravestones of veterans in local cemeteries to create a database of information for history buffs, relatives and others.

“This is an awesome resource,” Schneider said, noting a link to the database will be posted on the town’s website. PUBLIC SAFETY

Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. L.T. Tucker reported the sheriff’s District 1 office responded to 77 calls in Oak Ridge in October, including two burglaries from motor vehicles and one residential burglary; there were also three larcenies. Oak Ridge Fire Department. Engineer Jesse Hopper reported the department responded to 71 calls for emergency service in October, including two fire-related calls and 27 medical-related calls. Firefighters obtained 729 hours of training.

As a safety tip, Hopper encouraged homeowners to have their fireplaces, chimneys and gas logs inspected before using them this season. Mayor Ann Schneider, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman and council members George McClellan, Doug Nodine and Martha Pittman voted on the following items during the Nov. 4 meeting.  5  0: Appoint Adrian Eckenrod as an alternate on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee  5  0: Authorize transfer of $21,161.87 to the Veterans Memorial Restricted Fund  5  0: Adopt a resolution seeking state environmental approval for creating a municipal water system  5  0: Accept the town finance officer’s financial report for October  5  0: Authorize finance officer and the town manager to negotiate with Truist Financial for a loan for up to $3.25 million to help pay for development of Heritage Farm Park

‘CLEAN’ AUDIT

Chad Cook, senior manager for Dixon Hughes Goodman, said the accounting firm’s audit of the town’s finances for the fiscal year ended June 30 produced a “clean” report, with no modifications to financial information needed.

Council members congratulated finance officer Sam Anders for his handling of Oak Ridge’s finances.

“Things are in great order,” Schneider said.

MANAGER’S REPORT

 5  0 to appoint Adrian Eckenrod as an alternate on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.  5  0 to authorize the transfer of $21,161.87 to the Veterans Memorial Restricted Fund, matching money raised by the Special Events Committee for the establishment of a site honoring veterans. In the quarter ended Sept. 30, the committee raised $20,839.87 from donations and food truck proceeds during RidgeFest. An additional $322 in donations was received in the previous fiscal year ended June 30, bringing the town’s match to $21,161.87. To date, collections by the committee and the town’s match total $42,001.74, according to an Oct. 27 6 NOV. 18 - DEC. 1, 2021 The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 memo from Town Clerk Sandra Smith to the council. Combined with $8,649

collected before the town committed to match donations, the committee has raised $50,650.74 for the veterans site.

Constructing the Veterans Honor Green in Heritage Farm Park is estimated to cost about $150,000, according to Schneider. Earlier this year, the council agreed to provide as much as $34,000 in matching funds to the project in this fiscal year, which will end June 30, 2022.

Later in the meeting, Special Events Committee Chair Patti Dmuchowski said the committee is “overwhelmed by the generosity of the community” in donating to Veterans Honor Green. NEW BUSINESS

 5  0 to adopt a resolution seeking state environmental approval for creating a municipal water system.

Approval of the resolution advanced plans for establishing a water system that would initially serve new Oak Ridge subdivisions with at least 30 lots. The resolution addresses three documents – a water system management plan, water rules and a water conservation plan – that town manager Bill Bruce is submitting to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality for approval.

In July, the town hired Envirolink Inc. to establish and operate the water system, and will rely upon the contractor to work with state regulators to obtain approval of the town’s water system management

plan, according to the resolution.

“This takes us forward as we develop a modest water system for our town,” McClellan said.

Kinneman reiterated that homeowners who get water from private wells won’t be required to hook up to the municipal system. Eventually, however, homeowners may be able to tap into the system if they wish to do so, Schneider added. It is envisioned that the system will provide water for fighting fires. PUBLIC COMMENTS

„ Milana Nostrand, the Eagle Scout recognized earlier in the meeting, said Scout Troop 219 is organizing Wreaths across Northwest, a project to place wreaths on the graves of veterans in local cemeteries over the holidays. The troop, which meets at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, plans to seek donations for what it hopes will become an annual project. „ Assistant fire chief Sam Anders said the fire department sold out of barbecue in an hour and a half during its annual fundraiser Oct. 16. Some people arrived two hours before the start of the sale.

The event raised about $6,100, which will be used to assist families displaced by fires, and cover some department expenses and spending on community projects, Anders said in an interview after the meeting. FINANCIAL UPDATE

 5  0 to accept the town’s October financial report, which showed property tax receipts of $347,863 and sales tax receipts of $25,602 as the biggest sources of revenue. The fund balance totaled nearly $4.6 million as of Oct. 31.  5  0 to authorize finance officer Sam Anders and town manager Bill Bruce to negotiate a loan with Truist Financial for as much as $3.25 million to help pay for development of Heritage Farm Park. Preparation of loan documents doesn’t commit Oak Ridge to borrowing money until the council decides to proceed with construction of the Town Park expansion, possibly early next year. COMMUNITY UPDATES

commission member Courtenay Harton are placing new historical items in the glass display case in the lobby of Town Hall. Planning and Zoning Board. The board reported that at their October meeting, board members unanimously recommended approval of the site plan for Heritage Farm Park. Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Bruce reported that construction of a side path along Haw River and Pepper roads should be completed by the end of the year; the gravel path connects two sections of the trail northwest of town.

Clearing is underway for construction of a gravel parking lot on Linville Road for motorists to park their vehicles while hiking on the trail. Special Events Committee. Chair Patti Dmuchowski said Light Up the Night is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, with plans for about 1,000 luminaries and many Christmas-related activities in Town Park. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Cochair John Garrett said the board is reviewing the town’s field usage contract with Oak Ridge Youth Association for 2022. Oak Ridge Elementary School. Principal Penny Loschin said all students are now using One Card badges, which they scan when they’re boarding buses and entering the building. The badge system is one of Guilford County Schools’ safety precautions.

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„ Council member Martha Pittman thanked the various organizations around town for “making Oak Ridge the special community that it is.” „ Nodine thanked community volunteers for their contributions. „ Kinneman reiterated that “we are a citizen-driven town,” and also praised town staff for their work. Pediatrics—Greensboro 802 Green Valley Road Suite 210 „ McClellan congratulated Schneider and Greensboro, NC 27408 Kinneman for their reelection to the coun- 336-510-5510 cil. He also thanked residents for voting and Adult Urgent Care—Pisgah Church said he appreciated the town’s volunteers. Brenner Children’s Urgent Care—Pisgah Church „ Schneider thanked her fellow council members for their contributions and 2005 Pisgah Church Road Greensboro, NC 27455 336-716-9150 she and Kinneman thanked voters for reelecting them to the council.

With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.